Teen charged with pushing Texas boy into pond in drowning

LUFKIN, Texas (AP) — An East Texas teenager is accused of pushing his pregnant girlfriend’s 3-year-old nephew into a pond so the boy would drown to make room for the unborn child to live at their home. Mason’s body was found Aug. 18 in a pond near Lufkin, a day after he was reported missing while playing outside as his parents cleaned their home, investigators have said. An affidavit says Woods told investigators that he knew Mason could not swim, pushed the youngster into the pond and then turned away and ignored the victim’s cries for help.

The case will be referred to the Angelina County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution, the sheriff’s office said. “The Angelina County Sheriff’s Department has been in daily contact with the Cuttler family and would like to thank them for their continued cooperation,” the department said in an email Friday. “The Sheriff’s Department extends their condolences to the family.” The Sheriff’s Department said it would also like to express appreciation for the assistance provided by the Lufkin Police Department and the Texas Rangers, as well as everyone who assisted in recovering Mason Cuttler’s body.